Vestry approves restoration of St. Mark’s historic Aeolian-Skinner Organ

I write with exciting news! The Vestry has voted unanimously to proceed with a total restoration of our beloved Aeolian-Skinner Pipe Organ (Opus 1391) from 1962. It’s considered one of the finest examples of organ building from this period. Renowned American organist and composer Dr. Charles Callahan called the instrument, “a magnificent work of organ building…that has been lovingly cared for.”

We’ve provided regular maintenance and have already made upgrades to its electronic control components. But the instrument is now 62 years old, and many of the components, including leather pouches and pneumatics, need restoring to preserve its integrity for future generations.

In September, a company from Pennsylvania will carefully remove, pack, and transport the majority of our 2,830 pipes for cleaning and refurbishing. It’ll be exciting to witness, and it will be even more thrilling when the pipes come back shining and sounding good as new!

Our goal is a comprehensive restoration, to address all components of the organ. Experts tell us, the fact that the leather is still functioning after 62 years is nothing short of a miracle. It’s a testament to the quality of leather that was used in the construction of the instrument. The leather that will be used in the restoration is superior to what was available in 1962, and we believe this is an investment that will last a lifetime.

From the timeline, to the scope of the work, you probably have questions.

– Jordan Williams, Organist-Choirmaster